“Perpetual Motion is Possible in the Quantum Realm”: Researchers Link a ‘Time Crystal’ to an External Device in a Breakthrough First

Researchers at Aalto University’s Department of Applied Physics have successfully linked a time crystal to an external device for the first time, demonstrating perpetual motion in a quantum system without external energy input. The breakthrough, led by Jere Mäkinen, could enable advancements in high-precision sensors and quantum storage systems, with findings published in *Nature Communications*." "article": "Scientists at Aalto University’s Department of Applied Physics have achieved a landmark breakthrough by linking a time crystal—a quantum system exhibiting perpetual motion—to an external device for the first time. Led by Jere Mäkinen, the research demonstrates that time crystals, which maintain repetitive motion in their ground state, can interact with external systems without external energy input, a feat previously deemed impossible. The study, published in *Nature Communications*, builds on Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek’s 2012 theory proposing time crystals as a temporal equivalent of spatial crystals. Mäkinen’s team used radio waves to propel magnons—quasiparticles—into a superfluid of Helium-3 cooled near absolute zero, creating a time crystal that persisted for several minutes before fading. The experiment revealed that the time crystal’s properties could be adjusted by coupling it with a mechanical oscillator, showing frequency changes analogous to optomechanical phenomena used in gravitational wave detection. This interaction suggests potential applications in high-precision sensors and quantum storage systems. Mäkinen noted that perpetual motion is possible in quantum systems so long as they remain undisturbed, explaining why prior attempts to connect time crystals to external devices had failed. The team’s success in altering the crystal’s properties through external manipulation marks a significant step forward in quantum research. The findings could pave the way for new technologies, including advanced sensors and quantum networks, by leveraging the unique properties of time crystals. Further refinement of the system may enhance its stability and practical applications in fields requiring ultra-precise measurements.